Abstract: Extensive conventional laboratory soil index tests and consolidatedundrained (CU) triaxial shear tests on undisturbed soil samples were conducted from various projects. These undisturbed soil samples were collected from the overconsolidated crust layer as well as from the underlying soft soil stratum. Both physical and mechanical properties of the crust layer and the soft stratum are compared in this paper. The comparisons lead to taking the advantage of the upper overconsolidated crust layer in practical engineering projects.

Key words: over consolidated crust, underlying soft soils, conventional laboratory tests, consolidated undrained triaxial shear tests, soil index properties